Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000 | 9:39 a.m.
Although winners of pro wrestling matches are predetermined, the bigger, stronger, more talented matmen generally get the nod from the promoters to come out on top.
However, throughout the history of the game there have been men who by their great physical stature could win every match unless they agreed to "put over" an opponent to ensure a new generation of stars would carry the torch.
The late 600-pound Haystacks Calhoun did it for Bruno Sammartino in the 1960s, as did the late 7-foot-4-inch Andre "The Giant" Roussimoff for Hulk Hogan in 1987.
In October 1996 Yokozuna, then a 580-pound, two-time World Wrestling Federation champion, joined that fraternity when he put over "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, giving a career-boosting victory to the current premier WWF star.
Two years later, Yokozuna -- real name Rodney Anoai -- moved to Las Vegas to help his friend, Buffalo Jim Barrier, open his pro wrestling school on Industrial Road.
On Monday, while touring England and reportedly wrestling at an unhealthy 700 pounds, Yokozuna was found dead in his room at a London hotel, presumably from a heart attack. He was 34.
"Yokozuna had a great knowledge of the psychology of wrestling and in his prime was the most agile big man I ever saw wrestle," Barrier said.
Yokozuna, who left Barrier's school in 1999 to prepare for a return to pro wrestling, was in England as the headline performer for an upstart wrestling organization.
Yokozuna was one of the wrestlers who helped with the resurgence of pro wrestling. His ring wars with Hulk Hogan, a star of TV and action films, became legendary.
Born Oct. 2, 1966, in Los Angeles, Anoai's wrestling career began in the late 1980s for the old American Wrestling Alliance. By the time he joined the World Wrestling Federation in the early '90s, Anoai weighed more than 500 pounds and was given the name Yokozuna, which is Japanese for "grand champion," the highest title for sumo wrestlers. Anoai closely resembled the current sumo Yokozuna Akebono.
In August, 1998, Yokozuna joined the fledgling Buffalo Wrestling Federation and began training 15 students in a pro ring Barrier installed in a garage next to his auto electrical business.
"I'm here to teach the proper techniques," Yokozuna said in a 1998 Sun story. "We want to bring real pro wrestling to Las Vegas."
Yokozuna is survived by his parents, who live in Los Angeles, a brother Josh Anoai; a son, Justin Anoai; and a daughter Kalani Anoai, all of Las Vegas.
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